Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, chairman of the county’s House of Representatives delegation, on Wednesday appointed a committee of lawmakers to look at the issue of reopening a Birmingham office for the 26-member delegation. Rogers supports the idea.

Some members say the office is not needed and that the money should be turned over to the cash-strapped county. A state audit released last year found that 37 of 41 non-payroll related expenditures from the fund from 2008-2011 were not properly documented.

The delegation’s Birmingham office in the 2121 Building closed about two years ago. The lone employee had retired. A Bessemer office is also closed.

Some members of the delegation said last year they did not even know about the office or the office fund.

The money comes from Jefferson County pistol permit fees. People pay $7.50 a year for permits, and $2.50 goes to the Jefferson County Legislative Delegation Office. The retirement system receives $4.50 and the sheriff’s department receives 50 cents.

Rogers brought up the subject of reopening the office at a delegation meeting on Wednesday. He said the delegation needs a place to receive constituent complaints, have news conferences and house a public relations office.

Reps. Arthur Payne, R-Trussville, supports reopening the office. Payne and Rogers said the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex would be a good location for an office because it would be convenient for the public.

“We’re the largest and most diverse delegation in the state,” Payne said. “We need an office.”

Rep. Allen Farley, R-McCalla, is opposed to reopening the office and has proposed legislation that would send the $1.5 million to the Jefferson County General Fund and earmark it for law enforcement purposes. His bill would also change the distribution of the pistol permit fees, sending the $2.50 to the county for law enforcement. Farley said that share of the permit fees generates about $165,000 a year.

Two weeks ago, Farley sent other members of the delegation a letter explaining why he thought the money should be moved to the county for law enforcement.

“After looking at the history of the Jefferson County Legislative offices, I am convinced our pistol permit funds have not been utilized to best benefit the citizens of our county,” Farley wrote.

Farley worked in law enforcement for 36 years and was assistant sheriff in Jefferson County for seven years.

Payne said the money from the fund has been well protected.

“No member could spend one penny,” Payne said. “The money has been spent correctly,” Payne said.

Rep. Patricia Todd, D-Birmingham, said she was not aware of the office or the fund until several years after she was elected to the House in 2006. Todd was one of the members Rogers named to the committee on reopening the office.

Todd said the delegation needs an office. She said every decision that allocates money from the fund should be done in a delegation meeting with public notice. She said there should be a personnel policy governing hiring and supervision of office staff.

Todd said she would like a place to be able to meet with constituents and said the delegation needs a website with contact information. She said the BJCC would be a good location.

Rep. Dickie Drake, R-Leeds, said the office money should be turned over to the county. He said he did not need a delegation office to meet with constituents.

“I’ll meet them in a Subway or a Cracker Barrel where we can sit down and have a cup of coffee,” Drake said.

Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, said the Senate delegation is split on whether an office is needed.

“Some want it, some don’t,” Waggoner said. “There’s probably more that don’t want it in the Senate delegation. I don’t use it. I don’t need it. But maybe some of them do.”

Rep. Allen Treadaway, R-Morris, who is on the committee Rogers picked, said at this point he did not see a need for an office. He said he was open to the idea of exploring the possibility with the committee.

Rep. Jim Carns, R-Mountain Brook, said he was opposed to reopening the office."I wouldn't use it," Carns said. "I don't know how many people are going to use it. It wouldn't be a bad thing if they utilize it."